CARDIFF, Wales (AP):

Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting each scored centuries as Australia reached 249 for one at stumps to take the upper hand on the second day of the first Ashes test yesterday.

Responding to England's first innings total of 435, opener Katich was on 104 at the close while captain Ponting brought up his 100 with his last ball of the day.

It took Ponting's haul of test centuries to 38, the second-highest total in history behind India's Sachin Tendulkar, while 33-year-old Katich notched his eighth and first Ashes century in a stand of 189 with his skipper. The man out was Phillip Hughes for 36.

Australia, seeking to retain the Ashes they won back in 2006-07, trail England by 186 runs, with the pitch encouraging the spin bowlers but being slow-paced and still good to bat on.

high price

"It's only day two, the pitch was good, we put a high price on our wickets and didn't take too many risks and were content to put together a big partnership," Katich said. "We're mindful that there is still a lot of work to be done before someone is in front."

Katich, who managed just 248 runs at a lowly average of 27.55 in the entire 2005 Ashes series, made three figures when he pulled Andrew Flintoff to fine leg for one.

"We didn't put the ball in the right place often enough," off-spinner Graeme Swann said. "We can moan about the ball going soft and Katich not being given out to me when he was plumb but these things happen.

"It's not like we walked into the dressing room thinking 'it's all doom and gloom.' We are all looking forward to throwing this ball into the river and getting our hands on a new one." The new ball is due in another nine overs.

generous applause

Before tea, Ponting scored his 11,000th test run in his 132nd match when he pulled Stuart Broad for two and he acknowledged generous applause with his bat.

Australia scored at five runs per over before lunch, but Andrew Flintoff's introduction immediately after the break slowed the momentum. Australia managed just seven runs in the five overs directly after lunch, compared to 39 from eight overs at lunch.

Flintoff bowled a hostile maiden over to Hughes first up and achieved the fastest ball of the match in his next over at 93 miles per hour and later even touched 94 mph.